Ron Burgundy returns in ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’
Will Ferrell, one of the best and craziest comedians working today, has obviously crafted his most memorable character in Ron Burgundy, the sassy news anchor who can’t seem to break from his 1970s nostalgia. He’s a sexist buffoon who relies on an old concept of news gathering. If it looks good and sounds good, Burgundy will showcase it on the five o’clock news — mustache included.
After the success of Anchorman, Burgundy is back in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. This time we find Burgundy estranged from his wife, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), and facing a bout of unemployment. The old team members — Brick (Steve Carell), Brian (Paul Rudd) and Champ (David Koechner) — are scattered around the United States with their time in Burgundy’s orbit a distant memory. It’s up to Ron to gather them and convince them to try something new: 24/7 news.
The jokes are numerous, and the one-liners from Burgundy are precious. The problem is that everything feels like a retread of the original, and, worst of all, the characters seem conscious of their iconic nature. Carell’s Brick was a scene stealer in the original, and now every line from his character seems like a ploy to gather cheap laughs at the expense of his odd behavior. The exploitation is so obvious that the director, Adam McKay, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ferrell, has given Carell a female mirror version in Chani (Kristen Wiig). When Brick and Chani are together, it’s definitely weird and funny, but the narrative takes a backseat to make way for the stupid antics.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is at its best when skewering broadcast journalism. There’s some clever critiques built into the sequel’s script, but, for the most part, the film is an exercise in how strange the plot can evolve. Unrelated, out-of-left-field intrusions pop up for no good reason. For example, Champ is now the owner of a chain restaurant that serves bat meat rather than chicken. Why? No good reason is given. This is the world of Anchorman; simply go with it.
Burgundy is still a classy character, and Ferrell knows how to play him with ease. From the perfectly crafted hair to the suggestive facial expressions to the mustache heard round the newsroom, Burgundy is still worth the price of admission. Everything and everyone else are there to energize the plot — nothing more, nothing less.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
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2013
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Directed by Adam McKay
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Written by McKay and Will Ferrell
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Starring Ferrell, Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd and David Koechner
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Running time: 120 minutes
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Rated R for language, drug use, sexual material and references
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Rating:
